A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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This week’s featured articles …
FEATURE: How a new satellite-based platform could transform water management in California
In 2015, when California was deep into a severe drought, state Senate Bill 88 tightened requirements for reporting water use. This posed a challenge for growers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s 415,000 acres of farmland, where many irrigation systems are fed by siphons instead of pumps and so lack electricity to run water meters.
Alternative power sources proved troublesome. “I spent a lot of time on the side of levees replacing batteries and circuit boards, and fixing solar panels,” recalls Brett Baker, a water attorney with the Central Delta Water Agency who grew up on a Sutter Island pear orchard.
So when former Delta Watermaster Michael George suggested that Baker look into OpenET, a new online platform that uses satellites to track how much water plants consume, Baker was primed to make it work. That was in 2020. This year marked the launch of an OpenET-based website for reporting water use in the Delta, and 70 percent of growers there have already adopted it.
Click here to continue reading this article.
CAL MATTERS: The world’s largest dam demolition has begun. Can the dammed Klamath River finally find salvation?
By Rachel Becker, Cal Matters
Oshun O’Rourke waded into the dark green water, splashing toward a net that her colleagues gently closed around a cluster of finger-length fish.
The Klamath River is wide and still here, making its final turn north to the coast as it winds through the Yurok reservation in Humboldt County. About 150 baby chinook salmon, on their long journey to the Pacific, were resting in cool waters that poured down from the forest.
O’Rourke’s colleagues hoisted the net into a mesh-sided bin in the shallows to sort through their catch, in search of young chinook to test for a parasite that can rot fish from the inside.
Two years ago, during a deepening drought, most salmon captured for testing during peak migration were infected with the lethal parasite. One tribal leader called it “an absolute worst-case scenario” for the Yurok, who rely on salmon for their food, culture and economy.
O’Rourke and fisheries biologist Leanne Knutson laid out 20 small dead fish on paper towels, then wrapped them in plastic to send to a lab that will check for the parasite. The rest were released back into the river, where they will swim for days to reach the ocean.
A few years from now, when these fish return as adults ready to spawn, it will be to a Klamath remade.
Click here to read this article.
USFWS: New challenges in the struggle to save Pacific Salmon
By the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Over the last 150 years, the effects of human activities such as agriculture, mining, damming, logging, and overfishing have led to declines in Pacific salmon species. For decades, efforts have been made to help salmon persist through the challenges they faced. Now climate change is adding to the suite of challenges threatening the long-term viability of salmon and the cultures, traditions and economies of the communities that depend on them.
In the Pacific Northwest, the populations of many salmon species have declined significantly, with some protected under the Endangered Species Act. In Alaska, a place with historically healthy salmon runs, the decline of some runs has caused tremendous hardship and concern.
Click here to continue reading this article.
DELTA COUNCIL: Addressing climate vulnerabilities in the Delta
At the July meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Associate Deputy Executive Officer Harriet Lai Ross updated the Council members on the Delta Adapts project.
Delta Adapts is a two-phase initiative. The first phase was the vulnerability assessment, completed two years ago. The vulnerability assessment identified the people, assets, and resources most vulnerable to increased climate impacts related to flooding, droughts, and wildfire smoke. The second phase, the adaptation plan, will outline the strategies to respond to those vulnerabilities.
Click here to continue reading this article.
In California water news this week …
Feds’ discrimination claim over California salinity standards deemed premature
“A federal judge agreed with California that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation can’t claim yet that an amendment to salinity standards for parts of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta discriminates against the U.S. government. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston in Sacramento on Wednesday dismissed the bureau’s claim under the federal constitutional intergovernmental immunity doctrine, which prohibits state or local laws that discriminate against the U.S. government, because until the amendment is implemented, it won’t be possible to evaluate whether the bureau is treated differently than similarly situated parties. “To evaluate the IGI claim, the court must be able to compare the impacts of the amended plan on Reclamation to the impacts upon some comparator entity,” Thurston said. “At this time, it is unclear how the court could do so.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
America is using up its groundwater like there’s no tomorrow
“Global warming has focused concern on land and sky as soaring temperatures intensify hurricanes, droughts and wildfires. But another climate crisis is unfolding, underfoot and out of view. Many of the aquifers that supply 90 percent of the nation’s water systems, and which have transformed vast stretches of America into some of the world’s most bountiful farmland, are being severely depleted. These declines are threatening irreversible harm to the American economy and society as a whole. The New York Times conducted a months-long examination of groundwater depletion, interviewing more than 100 experts, traveling the country and creating a comprehensive database using millions of readings from monitoring sites. The investigation reveals how America’s life-giving resource is being exhausted in much of the country, and in many cases it won’t come back. Huge industrial farms and sprawling cities are draining aquifers that could take centuries or millenniums to replenish themselves if they recover at all. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
RELATED: Five Takeaways From Our Investigation Into America’s Groundwater Crisis, from the New York Times
New permanent water conservation rules are coming to California — see how your city will be affected
“Dozens of California cities could be required to impose permanent water conservation measures starting in about a year — and keep them in place even when the state is not in a drought — under proposed new rules from state water regulators. The landmark rules are required by two laws that former Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2018 after a severe five-year drought. Environmentalists and some water districts support them, saying they are critical as the state grapples with climate change and more severe droughts. But some water agencies have been strongly opposed, saying Sacramento is beginning a new era of micro-managing how local communities use water. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Will Northern California see another stormy winter this year? Here’s what experts predict
“This summer’s heat seems to be easing down as temperatures recline to the 70s and 80s , a reminder that seasons are changing and winter is coming. In June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association officially declared an El Niño, predicting that it will strengthen in the northern hemisphere this winter. But it’s too soon to know exactly what this winter will look like for California. Here’s what experts are predicting … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Hilary vanquished California’s drought. But much of that water was wasted
“Almost all of California is finally drought-free, after Tropical Storm Hilary’s rare summer drenching added to this winter’s record-setting rainfall totals. But despite all that drought-busting precipitation, California continues to capture only a percentage of that water. Much of the abundance in rain from Hilary ended up running off into the ocean — not captured or stored for future use, when California will inevitably face its next drought. “We’re not even coming close to capturing all the runoff,” said Mark Gold, the director of Water Scarcity Solutions for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He still called Hilary’s rainfall “an unexpected boon” for Southern California’s local water supplies, but said too much of the storm’s water washed away — the latest reminder of the state’s urgent challenge to better capture rainwater to help refill vital groundwater resources. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
KQED Forum: How safe is California’s tap water?
“The tap water in Southern and Central California’s urban areas are among the U.S. regions most exposed to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Almost half the tap water in the United States contains one or more PFAS, high levels of which are linked to health issues like infertility and cancer, the study found. It’s raising questions about water quality in a state where more than 1 million people already lack access to safe water, especially in low-income, disadvantaged communities. Still, “drinking water across California is largely safe,” according to the Pacific Institute. We’ll look at the state of tap water in California and talk with experts about how to make sure your drinking water is safe.” Guests include Susana De Anda, co-founder and executive director, Community Water Center, and E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. The radio show airs at 10am; audio available afterwards on this page from KQED.
Map: Does your drinking water contain ‘forever chemicals’?
“So-called “forever chemicals” have been found in 45% of the nation’s tap water, according to a recent government study, but is your tap water affected? If you’re wondering whether or not your tap water might contain synthetic chemicals known as PFAS, nonprofit Environmental Working Group created an interactive map using official records and data from public drinking water systems to show where forever chemicals were found to be above and below the advised maximum concentration level, 4 parts per trillion (PPT). EWG notes that while researchers used the highest quality data available, contamination levels are based on a single point in time and may not reflect changes to the water system or treatment efforts. … ” Read more from KRON.
Billionaire land buys threaten state ag, water resources
“State Senator Melissa Hurtado and Congressman John Garamendi are sounding the alarm on the dangers of when billionaire investors gobble up ag land. On Aug. 29, Senator Hurtado, 16th District and chair of the State Agriculture Committee, hosted an informational hearing at the State Capitol to discuss the unprecedented land purchases in Solano County by Flannery Associates LLC; and to explore possible remedies to prevent private entities and foreign governments from acquiring California agricultural land. The hearing, titled Informational Hearing on Navigating Threats to California Agriculture, included comments from politicians, including Congressman Garamendi, D-8th District, farming advocates, an investigative journalist, an agriculture land real estate agent and Agriculture Committee members. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
SEE ALSO: Firm that kept land purchases near Travis AFB secret launches new website, from Channel 7
PRESS RELEASE: Coalition of conservation groups unite in opposition to Sites Reservoir, formally protest water right
“Friends of the River (FOR) and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), two of California’s oldest and most respected water conservation organizations, along with a coalition of tribes and environmental organizations including the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, AquAlliance, California Water Impact Network, Cal Wild, Fly Fishers of Davis, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk, Northern California Council of Fly Fishers International, Restore the Delta, Save California Salmon, Sierra Club California, and Water Climate Trust, have submitted a protest against the water rights application and petitions of the Sites Project Authority for the proposed Sites Reservoir. This protest is part of a legally required process to ensure public concerns are addressed when granting water rights in California. … ” Read more from Friends of the River. | Read similar press release from the CSPA.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sites Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions Evaluation
“A recent Boiling Point Newsletter from LA Times reporter Ian James raises questions about the analysis of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the future Sites Reservoir. The report cites a new analysis, called the All Res Tool, which was developed by Tell the Dam Truth/Friends of the River (TTDT/FOR) groups opposing the building of the reservoir. The following FAQ addresses the questions raised in the article about the Sites Project’s greenhouse gas emissions and provides a comparison of the analyses done by TTDT/FOR and the Sites GHG experts.”
EPA rolls back federal water protections following high court decision
“Keeping pace with a spring Supreme Court decision that slashed protections for U.S. wetlands, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule Tuesday that could cut federally protected waters by more than half. “We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling,” EPA administrator Michael Regan indicated in a statement Tuesday announcing the new Waters of the United States rule. While Regan said he was disappointed with the high court’s ruling, he indicated that the agency’s hands were tied and that it must weaken wetland protections to enforce the court’s decision. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO:
- After Supreme Court curtails federal power, Biden administration weakens clean water protections, from the Associated Press
- Disappointment with EPA’s Latest WOTUS Rule, from Ag Net West
AND ALSO NOTE THIS: Statement from the State Water Board: “Though the State Water Resources Control Board is extremely disappointed in the decision and the adverse impacts it will have nationally, it only narrows the scope of federal jurisdiction and does not weaken California’s more stringent wetlands protections.” Read the full statement from the State Water Board.
A season of contradictions for wildfire
“This year’s devastation in Maui and far-reaching smoke from fires in Canada are hiding an anomaly as the wildfire season approaches its usual peak: The U.S. is having one of its lightest years for wildland fire in recent history. U.S. wildfires burned 1.8 million acres as of Thursday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. That’s the fewest in at least a decade to this point on the calendar, and about one-third of the 10-year average of acres burned through Aug. 24, the NIFC reported. The wildfire season is far from done, and California typically hits its peak in the late summer and early fall, according to Frontline Wildfire Defense, a California company that consults with property owners on defensible space measures to reduce the risk of property loss. … ” Read more from E&E News.
This brutal summer in 10 alarming maps and graphs
“As global temperatures rapidly climb, humanity is seeing more and more of the disastrous effects scientists warned us about: fiercer heat waves, more intense wildfires, and heavier rain. The extremes of the past few months are but a preview of the ever-worsening pain we’ll endure if we don’t dramatically reduce carbon emissions. “We have certainly had unusually large extremes in a number of parts of the world,” says climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of the research group Berkeley Earth. “Global temperatures, sea surface temperatures—particularly the North Atlantic region—was sort of off the charts. Antarctic sea ice has been exceptionally low. If you had asked me what I expected to see this summer, it would not have been quite this coincidence of extremes.” What’s made this summer so bad? … ” Read more from Wired Magazine.
In commentary this week …
Sites Reservoir project is not the water solution California needs
Keiko Mertz, Policy Director for Friends of the River, writes, “California is at yet another critical point in its struggle toward a sustainable water future, and yet we’re still talking about the wrong solutions. On Wednesday, the water rights protest period for Sites Reservoir will come to a close. Sites Reservoir is the latest in a long line of proposed dams promising to end our cycle of water insecurity. However, Sites won’t add much to California’s water portfolio, and its harm to the Sacramento River, Delta ecosystem and communities that rely on them could be irreversible and ongoing. … If the Delta ceased to deposit water into the San Francisco Bay, ocean water would further flow into the Delta, making the Delta’s water unusable for farming and toxic for the wildlife that depends upon it. … ” Read the full commentary at Cal Matters.
Sites Reservoir: Greenhouse gas threat or hot air?
Don Wright, publisher of Water Wrights, writes, “One modern day mystery is how California is going to be able to supply its water needs going forward without more water storage. If the climate changes as predicted, more rain and less snow, California’s hydrology and its storage needs are going to change greatly. No major water infrastructure has been built in the state since its population was 16-million. Now with more than 40-million people it has to be asked – can the state meet its water needs without improved infrastructure? California is one of the five Mediterranean Climates on Earth where diverse agriculture can thrive along with unparalleled beauty and a preferred biosphere for many creatures including humans. Most of California’s stored water supply begins as snowpack in the mountains surrounding the Central Valley. As the snow in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades Ranges melt during the spring and summer the runoff is gathered in reservoirs to prevent flooding and provide supplies for urban, agricultural, recreational and environmental use during the dry seasons. This system makes life in California as we know it possible, providing the supplies needed to support families, business and habitat. … ” Continue reading at the California Globe.
The social significance of water infrastructure
Aaron Pope, Project Manager with The Catalyst Group, Inc, writes, “When we discuss water infrastructure in our industry, our thoughts naturally gravitate toward its fundamental roles in growing our food, supplying our homes, and powering industries. However, within the depths of lakes and the fast-moving currents of rivers, lies an often-overlooked aspect of water’s importance – its profound social significance. Beyond its utilitarian functions, water plays a vital role in fostering community, recreation, and shared experiences that enrich our lives in ways that extend far beyond basic necessities. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Nuclear power could save our air quality. At what cost to the water?
Columnist Liz Granderson writes, “You know it was a remarkable week when dumping tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean wasn’t even the lead story. That’s right: While much of the globe’s attention was on the former American president’s legal battles and the mug shot seen around the world, Japan started its 30-year plan to release the diluted yet still contaminated water that was stored at the now defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Back in 2011, the most powerful earthquake in Japan’s recorded history led to a devastating tsunami and the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Damage to the plant led to radiation of a huge volume of water, which the facility has been storing ever since. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Pat Mulroy: Sustainable solutions needed to navigate the water crisis in the West
Pat Mulroy, the former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and president and CEO of Sustainable Strategies, writes, “When I sat down a year ago to pen a guest Where I Stand column, the water situation on the Colorado River looked very different. The previous winter had brought no relief to the drought-stricken region and the reservoirs were threatening to drop to catastrophic levels with the very real possibility that our neighbors south of us could be cut off from river water entirely. The reaction of the states and the federal government was exactly what could be expected in those circumstances … fast, deep and dramatic reductions in use. Tempers flared and lawyers were hired to assert the various legal claims. Then this winter the basin experienced a rare atmospheric river bringing heavy snows to the Rockies. Reservoirs that had been predicted to fall were now expected to rise somewhat. That was enough breathing room for the states to adopt a temporary solution of remedial reductions until a larger, more permanent solution can be found before 2026. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Sun.
In regional water news this week …
Klamath Project irrigators might lose remaining water allocation
“Water users in the Klamath Project may lose their remaining water allocations following a warning from the Bureau of Reclamation sent out last Friday. The letter tells irrigators “… there is projected to be a shortfall in the Sept. 30 Upper Klamath Lake elevation of 4139.2 feet that was identified in the May 18, 2023, update to the 2023 Annual Operation Plan. This situation is likely to require a reduction in project water supply in order to minimize or eliminate the shortfall.” The letter from Reclamation said the department will continue to explore actions to mitigate any reductions, but encourages contract holders to conserve their supplies. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Success for Coho salmon at BLM California’s Headwaters Forest Reserve
“Over the last year, salmon spawning numbers skyrocketed in the BLM-managed Headwaters Forest Reserve in California. This spawning success is an indicator of the improved health of the forest itself, which was established as a forest reserve in 1999 to protect some of the last untouched ancient redwoods on California’s North Coast. The heavy rains of December 2022 and January 2023 drastically improved river breeding areas for salmon migration in the South Fork Elk River, a key waterway in the Reserve. Zane Ruddy, BLM California Arcata Field Office fish biologist, said evidence of this success was borne out in recent fish surveys. “Typically, we can complete a spawner survey along the Elk River in a few hours, but this year it took two days to complete. There are fish and redds (their nests) around every river bend. We counted 140 spawners in one day, which exceeds what we normally see in a whole season,” he said. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Land Management.
Could the Chinese government fund construction of huge new dam in Santa Clara County?
“Six years after unveiling plans to build a 320-foot high dam and reservoir at Pacheco Pass in southern Santa Clara County, the largest water district in Silicon Valley still hasn’t found any other water agencies willing to help fund the project. But this week, an unusual potential partner came to light: China. The revelation of interest from one of the United States’ most contentious rivals is the latest twist in the project’s shaky history: The price tag has tripled to $2.8 billion since 2018 due to unstable geology found in the area. The Santa Clara Valley Water District, which is pursuing the plan, has delayed groundbreaking by at least three years, to 2027, instead of 2024 as announced five years ago. And environmentalists won a lawsuit this summer that will require more study of how ongoing geological work will affect endangered plants and animals. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Mapping farms by size in the San Joaquin Valley
“As implementation of the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) proceeds, it’s no secret that the San Joaquin Valley will have to adapt to a future with less water for irrigation. Our research shows that overall irrigation supplies may decline by as much as 20% by 2040. Land uses will have to change, and some have raised concerns that SGMA’s implementation could put smaller farms at a disadvantage, given their more limited resources and capacity. To gain insight on these issues, we conducted a detailed geographical analysis of cropping patterns and water conditions by farm size on the San Joaquin Valley floor, using county real estate records on ownership of agricultural parcels (individual properties of varying sizes) to identify farms. In this first blog post, we explore where San Joaquin Valley farms of different sizes are and what they grow. We provide more details in an accompanying dataset. A subsequent post will delve into water issues facing farms of different sizes in the SGMA era. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Stay out, stay alive: a story of Kern County’s killer river
“Colorful awnings and tents lined the shores of the Kern River on a Saturday afternoon at Riverside Park in the small town of Kernville in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Even in town, the otherwise dark blue-green river churned white over and around the rocks and tree branches within the choppy waves. Despite the swift currents, families played in the water to beat the muggy August heat, some splashing near the shore, others floating on rafts and inner tubes near the middle. Then disaster struck. “People were just hanging out when these two inner tubes that were lashed together came floating down the river upside down,” said a witness at the scene, who declined to give his name. “Their legs were in the air. We weren’t sure if they were okay. Then someone screamed, ‘Help them!’” he added. From what he could tell the people were rescued, but he wasn’t certain since they had floated too far downriver for him to see what happened. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News via Maven’s Notebook.
Ridgecrest: It’s time to pay for water: IWVGA begins making the difficult decisions
“A difference of $38 million dollars in taxes to those in the Indian Wells Valley hung in the balance as the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority discussed funding options for the imported water pipeline project at the IWVGA’s board meeting on Aug. 23. The mood of the room reflected the gravity of the decision. Conversation slowed, political rivalries cooled, and board members asked the same clarifying questions from subject matter experts for a third or fourth time. Ultimately, too many questions remained on such an important decision, and so the IWVGA board tabled it until their next meeting on Sept. 13. No further delays will be possible; the IWVGA will need to make a decision at their September meeting. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
As companies eye massive lithium deposits in the Salton Sea, locals anticipate a mixed bag
“When Sonia Herbert, 78, opened a restaurant in Bombay Beach, a small California neighborhood about 80 miles northeast of San Diego, she welcomed the bustle of tourists and locals visiting the Salton Sea shoreline. Located in Imperial County, the lake and its wetlands offer crucial habitats for migratory birds and a refuge for people from the hot desert sun. “People would go water skiing, fishing and swimming,” Herbert remembers. “We used to have thousands of birds come through here migrating and now, you don’t see the big white pelicans anymore. But recently, the Salton Sea has become a hotbed of industrial activity filled with promise for the future. Beneath its shores lie untouched lithium deposits that experts believe could play a role in the world’s clean energy future. With the rising demand for lithium during the clean energy transition, the area—also known as “Lithium Valley”—has become an attractive location for major energy companies to explore advanced mining techniques like direct lithium extraction (DLE). … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Supervisors wade into Rainbow, Fallbrook, SDCWA water fight
“San Diego County supervisors have formally weighed in on a contentious — and increasingly costly — plan by two rural water districts to break away from a regional authority they say is too expensive. The county board voted 3-1 this week in favor of a recommendation from Supervisor Joel Anderson to support state legislation that would require approval by a majority of all voters within the regional water authority — rather than only those residents of a breakaway district. “This process would allow water customers of all (San Diego County Water Authority) member agencies to decide what is best for our region’s water future and the potential implications of their own water bills,” the former state senator told his board colleagues. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE: USACE issues permit authorizing California wildfire mitigation activities in waters of the United States
NOTICE of 180-Day Temporary Permit Application to divert water from the Mokelumne River in San Joaquin County
